UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
METEOROLOGY (BS) - PROFESSIONAL TRACK 1
Meteorology (BS) - Professional Track
Degree Requirements
Majors in Arts and Sciences may be completed with a minimum of 120 semester hours unless designated otherwise.
At least 30 hours of course work, which represents 25% of the required 120 hours, must be at the upper division level
in order to fulfill the University’s residency requirement. At least 15 of the 30 upper-division hours must be in the major
or concentration area. An overall grade-point-average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for graduation. In addition, a minimum
GPA of 2.0 is required in the student’s major or concentration area.
A student with a major in Meteorology must take a group of required courses totaling at least 47 semester hours. Meteorology
students must take a core of 32 semester hours of meteorology courses, plus one of the three specialty tracks listed below. Each
specialty track allows for flexibility with required course selections and electives.
The meteorology degree also requires MA 125, 126, 227, 238, PH 201, 202; ST 315.
Meteorology Major Requirements (47 hrs)
Credit
Hours
Core requirements for a geology major
32
MET 140
4 hrs
MET 341 (W)
3 hrs
MET 353
4 hrs
MET 354
3 hrs
MET 355
3 hrs
MET 356
3 hrs
MET 454
6 hrs
MET 455
6 hrs
Group 1 - Professional Meteorology Track:
15
MET 357
2 hrs
MET 358 OR MET 370
3-4 hrs
MET 420 OR GIT 460
4 hrs
Choose 5-6 hrs of electives from
the list below.
5-6 hrs
Choose from these electives as directed by your Track:
MET 191
1 hr
MET 342
3 hrs
MET 357
2 hrs
MET 358
4 hrs
MET 360
1 hr
MET 370
3 hrs
MET 410 (W)
3 hrs
MET 420
4 hrs
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
METEOROLOGY (BS) - PROFESSIONAL TRACK 2
MET 430
3 hrs
MET 440
2 hrs
MET 44
2 hrs
MET 456 (W)
3 hrs
MET 490
1-3 hrs
MET 492
1-3 hrs
MET 495
1-2 hrs
MET 496
1-2 hrs
GY 425
4 hrs
GIT 460
4 hrs
MGT 300
3 hrs
MKT 320
3 hrs
MET 359
2 hrs
Additional electives may be approved on a case by case basis.
MET 191 may be taken up to 3 times for credit but will only count once toward a meteorology elective.
Complete at least 15 semester hours in residence in major at the 300 and/or 400 level. A minimum GPA
of 2.0 is required in major.
15
General Education Requirements For Meteorology Majors
Areas I, II, and IV of the General Education Requirements for Meteorology are specified in the College of Arts and Sciences
section. Note that Area III requirements (Mathematics and Natural Sciences) are fulfilled by the major requirements specified
above.
Department Information
Department of Earth Sciences web site
http://www.southalabama.edu/colleges/artsandsci/earthsci/
The Department of Earth Sciences includes the disciplines of Geography, Geology, and Meteorology, and it offers a B.S. degree
as well as a minor in each of these three majors. Students can also earn a GIS Certificate or a minor in Geographic Information
Technology (GIT)
Geography, which is both a natural and a social science, studies the location, spatial distribution, and spatial interaction of Earth's
natural and human environments. Courses cover the subfields of Human Geography, Physical Geography, Regional Geography,
and Geographic Information Science.
Geology is the study of Earth, its composition, and the forces that form and change it, as well as the natural mineral resources
it contains. As such, it encompasses a broad spectrum of studies and draws from the other basic sciences: chemistry, physics,
and biology.
Meteorology is the study of atmospheric phenomena and the processes that cause weather. The science of meteorology
is firmly rooted in basic physical laws governing mass, momentum, and energy. Many weather processes are simulated by
complex computer models; however, accurate weather analysis and forecasting often requires meteorologists to identify and
conceptualize weather patterns often missed by automated techniques.
The programs of the Department of Earth Sciences are designed to give the non-major a background in Earth and atmospheric
science and the human impact on the landscape as part of a general education. Students pursuing a degree in Geography,
Geology, or Meteorology must also have a minor in another discipline.
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
METEOROLOGY (BS) - PROFESSIONAL TRACK 3
The Earth Sciences Department offers a departmental honors program that allows exceptional students to pursue independent
research. Students work with a faculty committee to choose an Earth Sciences research project (Geography, Geology,
Meteorology), develop a prospectus, and complete a senior thesis. Students completing this program graduate with departmental
honors.
Requirements for successful completion of an honors degree in Geography, Geology, or Meteorology require a GPA of at least
3.50 at graduation and completion of ES 492 (Honors Earth Sciences Seminar), ES 497 (Senior Thesis Prospectus), and six
hours of ES 499 (Senior Honors Thesis). These classes are in addition to those required for the major in Geography, Geology,
or Meteorology. All honors courses are listed under the prefix ES. Students interested in Earth Sciences honors must apply for
the program by their junior year. Complete requirements are available on the departmental web page.
All first-time freshmen must successfully complete CAS 100: First Year Experience as a degree requirement. Students must enroll
during their first term at USA, except for summer-entry students who must enroll in the fall semester following entry. Students
must demonstrate technology proficiency by passing the designated class in their major. GEO 331 for Geography majors, GY
301 for Geology majors, or MET 455 for Meteorology majors.
Graduate Studies
Although the Department of Earth Sciences has no graduate degree program, courses are offered at the graduate level for
students enrolled in Marine Sciences and Ecotoxicology, and others who need such course work. Contact the Department for
more information.
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